HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4490 FILED ON: 3/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4319
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Adam J. Scanlon
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: | Date Added: |
Adam J. Scanlon | 14th Bristol | 3/10/2025 |
Manny Cruz | 7th Essex | 3/24/2025 |
Margaret R. Scarsdale | 1st Middlesex | 4/8/2025 |
Michelle M. DuBois | 10th Plymouth | 4/23/2025 |
Jack Patrick Lewis | 7th Middlesex | 4/23/2025 |
James C. Arena-DeRosa | 8th Middlesex | 4/24/2025 |
Bridget Plouffe | 9th Plymouth | 4/28/2025 |
Rodney M. Elliott | 16th Middlesex | 6/25/2025 |
Meghan K. Kilcoyne | 12th Worcester | 11/4/2025 |
Erika Uyterhoeven | 27th Middlesex | 11/6/2025 |
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4490 FILED ON: 3/10/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4319
By Representative Scanlon of North Attleborough, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Adam J. Scanlon and Manny Cruz for legislation to further regulate the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops. Agriculture. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 39A of chapter 129 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting, in line 1, before the word “Every”, the following letter:- (a)
SECTION 2. Said section 39A of said chapter 129 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out, in line 13, the word “section”, and inserting in place thereof the following word:- subsection
SECTION 3. Said section 39A of said chapter 129 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after subsection (a) the following 3 subsections:-
(b) No person engaged in the business of operating a pet shop for which a license must be obtained pursuant to subsection (a); and are regulated under 330 CMR 12.00 shall sell or offer for sale a dog, cat, rabbit, or guinea pig.
(c) Subsection (b) shall not be construed to prohibit a pet shop from offering space to an animal rescue or shelter organization to showcase dogs, cats, rabbits, or guinea pigs for adoption so long as the pet shop does not have an ownership interest in the animals offered for adoption.
(d) Nothing in subsections (b) or (c) shall affect the authority of any town, city, or other locality to regulate or prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, rabbits or guinea pigs.
SECTION 4. This act shall go into effect 90 days after its passage.